The coloring of the leopard varies from white to bright golden brown, spotted with black spots and rosettes. The rosettes consist of groups of 5 to 6 spots arranged in a tight ring. It is carnivorous, eating small animals and medium size antelope. It is one of the Big Five animals of Southern Africa.

ADVERTISEMENT

MEERUT--In a footage captured on camera, that has gone viral, a leopard can be seen attacking people outside an army hospital in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.

The locals in the Chhavani area in Meerut have been asked to stay cautious after a leopard was spotted near the Army hospital, a forest official told PTI.

The leopard was spotted around 8 am at C block of Race Course Marg, near the Army hospital.

The video shows some youths trying to capture the wild cat. But, the leopard pounces on one of the men and then runs into a building under construction.

Conservator of forests, HK Awasthi, said the area has been sealed as a precautionary measure and people have been cautioned not to venture there.

All the precautionary measures have been taken--Army personnel and forest officials are present at the spot and have cordoned off the area. Forest officials have been alerted in Meerut, Noida and adjoining areas and the hunt is on for the leopard.

The schools in the area have also been closed as a safety measure.

However, the leopard has still not been captured.

A similar incident took place in Bengaluru in February, when a leopard was spotted at Vibgyor Public School. The leopard injured three people in the school and was later tranquilised after a day-long operation.